www.findamarket.net – *** NEWS ***

By Georgina Morris
THE new look Dewsbury Market has fully reopened after a major refurbishment.
Over the past year, traders and customers have seen the semi-covered and open markets spruced up as part of a £2.7m overhaul.

The scheme, which included new elec trics, a seating area and extended fish block, had been budgeted at £2.5m but ran £200,000 over because of structural problems, the harsh winter and individual needs of the many stalls.

Dewsbury Market Traders’ Association chairwoman Trish Makepeace said: “It’s been a long haul, but at last the market refurbishment has been completed.The market looks absolutely wonderful. It’s so much more vibrant and colourful.”

She said traders were grateful to customers for their loyalty during the work and to Kirklees Council for the investment.

Dewsbury Regeneration Board chairman Coun Paul Kane said: “The market is a focal point in Dewsbury bringing together people and communities and attracting visitors from far and wide.

“It is back to its award-winning standard and I’m sure that we’ll see a surge in new shoppers.”

source: Dewsbury Reporter

A CONTROVERSIAL review of a historic market has been branded a ‘waste of time and money’ by a struggling trader, who issued a stark warning to shoppers.

A report into Bury St Edmunds’ market, published last month, said stalls were still thriving and providing a good range of products.

But trader Peter Martin, 44, blasted the £6,000 report ordered by St Edmundsbury Borough Council, saying trade had ‘plummeted’ over the past two years.

“The review was a load of old rubbish,” he said. “Nobody came and asked us what we thought the problem was.

“It was an absolute waste of money.”

Mr Martin has run his stall on the market for the past 28 years but claims trade dropped after Asda opened in the town 18 months ago.

He now plans to give up his stall at Christmas if not before.

“I just can’t earn enough money,” he said. “If the general public aren’t going to shop with us, what can you do?

“Bury market is nice and quaint but, unfortunately, you don’t see people spending a lot of money.”

The review into the future of Bury and Haverhill markets was ordered by the borough council after the number of traders fell by almost 6% over the past five years.

The report, created by external consultants, said the market was still delivering a significant trading profit.

But Mr Martin said a change in shopping habits continued to blight trade for many of the independent stall holders.

“It’s not the council’s fault,” he said. “Trade has plummeted over the past two years.

“If people don’t use us, they are going to lose us.”

But John Webber, chairman of the Bury Market Traders’ Association, said consultants had spoken to traders while making up their report.

“It is just an individual trader, it is not reflective of the market as a whole,” he said. “In general, we are seeing a better flow of people.”

A spokesperson for the borough council said the market review did include discussions with market traders, all of whom were invited to take part in the review.

“The purpose of the review was to ensure a thriving future for our popular markets, especially given the challenging economic conditions and the changes in shopping habits.,” she said.

“The findings have been positively received by the market traders’ associations and other stakeholders, and we are looking forward to working closely with them in future”.

From the 9th to the 23rd December, for the first time Swindon will have a German-style Christmas Market.

The Location is in the very heart of the town, in Wharf Green next to House of Fraser, the Brunel Shopping Centre, the Big Screen and the Town Christmas Tree.

In the last couple of years Swindon has undergone a very tasteful renovation and Regeneration making it a very delightful city to visit and shop. Swindon has the unique position of being the main city within a 20 miles radius thus an excellent location for a Christmas Market. A 12 page Christmas Brochure with information about the Christmas Markets and calendar of events will be produced in September.

The Christmas Market will be made up of 40 to 50 wooden chalets beautifully decorated with the town Christmas tree as a background. It is anticipated that Swindon Christmas Market will attract even more footfall in the town then the 325,000/Week recorded as an average during December 2009.

The exhibitors attending the Christmas Market will be from Germany, France, Italy and the UK. Traders will be selected for the very high quality of their products, and the stylish way in which they present their chalets.
The Christmas Market is being organised by inSwindon BID Company Ltd and Brunomart French & Continental Markets both of whom are eager to ensure that Swindon Christmas Market and the visitor experience is of the very highest standard.

During the Christmas Market there will be a daily programme of festive music and carols to add to the traditional feel of the Christmas Market.

DATES
Thursday 9th – Thursday 23rd December 2010

OPENING TIMES
10am – 6pm Sunday – Wednesday
10am – 9pm Thursday
10am – 8pm Friday & Saturday

MARKETING

Christmas Brochure: A 12 page brochure with information about the Christmas Markets, calendar of events, late night shopping, and full details on events, activities and children’s competition will be produced in September. Brochure distribution will be a mixture of Street Team and DHL

Towns receiving the Brochure: Bradford on Avon, Calne, Chippenham, Cirencester, Corsham, Devizes, Fairford, Faringdon, Hungerord, Newbury, Malmesbury, Marlborough, SWINDON, Trowbridge, Wantage, Wroughton, Wootton Bassett

Newspaper Advertising:
Swindon advertiser; October/November/December
Swindon News; November
Swindon Link; November
Scene magazine; October & November
Ocelot; November

Radio Advertising with:
Hart 97.2 & 102.2 reaches a potential 220,000 listener in Swindon and local area with 58 % female and 38 % of ABC1 group.

Web Advertising:
www.swindontowncentre.co.uk
www.thebrunel.co.uk
www.theparade.co.uk
www.swindonweb.com
www.swindonlink.com

Town Centre Marketing:
A1 poster to go at the Bus Station
Newsletter
What’s on Guide October, November and December
Christmas character distributing the Christmas Brochure
Big Screen “Wharf Green”: Christmas animation through November & December.

External Town Centre Marketing
Use of Borough banner sites: Great Western Way, Drakes way and Old Town
Bus Wraps: Thamesdown Buses
Free Bus Travel on Thursday with promotion of all activities on both Stagecoach and Thamesdown
Fly postering around the Borough in conjunction with the Cristmas Funfair
The Brunel Shopping Centre has arranged with National Express Bus for a drop off point in the town centre to increase footfall from out of town

Information for Exhibitors

CHALETS
They are “Barn Door Style” chalets – those where the two doors open out wide – and each chalet will measure 3m x 2m. If any exhibitor specifically would prefer a counter top chalet, this may be possible on application.
Each chalet will be equipped with 2 x 13A electrical sockets and lighting.
The Chalets will face each others with plenty of room at the front for people to move around. There will be room behind the chalets for some stock, but it should not be considered to be a storage area.

CATERING CHALETS
We have 5 large ‘counter top’ catering chalets available for hire. They measure 4.5m x 2m and have 3 hatches at the front and a door at the side. They are only available to hire for the entire duration of 15 days.

SECURITY
Wharf Green is covered by CCTV camera at all times. During the Christmas Market from closing time to opening time the next day, a professional security guard will be on duty. Each chalet will have a padlock, and each stallholder will have 1 key. Also during this time of the year the local police up their vigilance in this area.

PARKING FOR EXHIBITORS
The Council intends to provide free parking for all exhibitors very near the town centre, we will have precise details and confirmation soon.

ACCOMODATION
We can look into a group discount at the local Travelodge or Menzies hotel If enough traders wanted to stay.

SETTING UP
Exhibitors will set up on Wednesday 8th December and take down after the event on Thursday 23rd December.
Those only doing the first 7 days will need to take down at 8pm on Wednesday 15th December and those doing the following 8 days will need to set up early on Thursday morning 16th December to be ready by 10am.

STOCKING UP
You will have access to your chalets in the mornings and evenings for replenishing stock. The times will be strictly defined because the area is a no vehicle access at all other times.

OTHER FACILITIES
Toilets are available nearby; it will be pointed out to you on arrival.
Rubbish will be collected everyday by The Town Council. Exhibitors must ensure they keep the fronts of their chalets clear from rubbish at all times and keep their chalet looking presentable.
Heaters. Only PAT tested electric heaters will be permitted

COST OF CHALET
Standard chalet £120 per day if you book for 7 or 8 days.
Standard chalet £110 per day if you book the full 15 days.
Catering chalet £175 per day and has to be booked for the full 15 days.

HOW TO APPLY FOR A CHALET
- Chalet will be awarded on a first come basis
- Priority will be given to exhibitors booking the all 15 days
- Please fill in the application clearly and with detailed information about your product
- Include any images or photos that will help support your application, being directed to a website will not be accepted in lieu of samples or hard copies of images
- Include a copy of your Public Liability Insurance
- Post your application to arrive no later than Saturday 25th September 2010

WHAT SORT OF EXHIBITOR / PRODUCT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
We want the Christmas Market to be inspiring, tasteful and beautifully presented. We are looking for exhibitors who have quality products which can’t be found easily find on the average high street.
We want exhibitors that will present their chalets in a stylish and tastefully festive manner, and who will merchandise their stock in an elegant and polite way.

PAYMENT
You are required to send in 3 cheques with your application, 2 of which will be post-dated. The first is a non-refundable deposit which will be cashed only if your application is successful.
Depending on the number of days you are applying for the cheques will be as follows:
Standard Chalets
15 DAYS 7 DAYS 8 DAYS
Cheque 1: £600 £400 £400
Cheque 2: £600 £240 £360
Post-dated 15th October 2010
Cheque 3: £450 £200 £200
Post-dated 15th November 2010
Total Paid £1650 £840 £960
Catering chalets
15 DAYS:
Cheque 1: £1000 use as deposit Cheque 2: £1000 post-dated to 15th October and
Cheque 3: £625 post-dated to 15th November 2010. Total Paid £2625

Cheques made payable to “Bruno’s French & Continental Markets” If your application is unsuccessful, your 3 cheques will be disposed of safely or returned to you. (Please enclose a SAE)
CANCELLATIONS
If you are accepted for a place at the Christmas Market and have to drop out for any reason the following will apply:
Cancellation prior to 1st October: 50% refund of money paid (minus deposit)
Cancellation after 15th October: 25% refund of money paid (minus deposit)
Cancellation after 1st November: Full payment will be retained. No refund possible.

Address to post cheque
Bruno’s French & Continental Markets
7 Buckland Road
Lower Kingswood
Tadworth
Surrey
KT20 7DN

Bruno Girardeau
07789 937446
Email: Bruno@brunomart.com

An historic market is asking the public to rate its market traders’ patter. Old Spitalfields in east London hopes a competition will see the revival of the art of ‘banter’, chat to potential buyers and ‘flash,’ the visual display of merchandise.

Customers will be asked to nominate stall-holders, with a top prize of £1,000 for the winner.

Shoppers who make 10 purchases with a competitor can obtain a shopping voucher and the chance to win £250 in a prize draw.

In an age of multinational retailing giants, the Wellington Market Company, responsible for the market, aims to showcase the individual attention lavished by traders on their customers, and their character.

“Gone are the days when market traders can just stand there motionless and merely react to their customers,” said its chief executive, Malcolm Ball.

“There’s so much competition on the high street, let alone inside the market hall, that market traders now need to up their game and take a much more proactive approach in attracting new customers.

“Although it’s widely known in our industry that markets can offer shoppers saving on their shopping bills, we do need to convey this message out to consumers. The challenge is all about presentation and attitude and that’s where flash and banter comes in.

“I’ve visited markets throughout the UK, such as the world-famous Bury Market and, from further afield, Quincy Market in Boston and Pike Place in Seattle. There, they take the concept of flash and banter to a whole new level and this has actually made the market a tourist destination in its own right. I’d like to see what could only be described as ‘retail theatre’ become much more prominent throughout Britain.”

On Saturday 8 May we hope to carry out a mini health check at Hexham Farmers’ Market.  Through the health check we will to get an understanding of the number of customers at our market and and get an idea of the amount of money spent at the market. The health check follows a methodology developed by FARMA, the body that supports farmers’ markets and farm shops.  By following the methodology we will be able to compare ourselves with other markets across the country and learn from those comparisons.  The overall aim of course is to make Hexham Farmers’ Market even better than it is already.

In order to be able to do this sucessfully we need a number of volunteers to help us: we need people willing to do counts throughout the morning and others willing to carry out a short survey with as many shoppers at the market as possible.

If you can spare some time on Saturday 8th May and are willing to help, please contact me on info@hexhamfarmersmarket.co.uk .  You help would be very much appreciated.

With best wishes

Peter Samsom
Hexham Farmers’ Market Coordinator

Organisers at Catterick Sunday Market are putting the ‘Ma’ back into ‘Market’ with a special event in their Big Top this Sunday.

The ‘Mother’s Day Jam’ is a loose, live jam with Mothers in mind. If your Ma is more Jam ‘n’ Spoon than Jam & Jerusalem then she’s bound to appreciate the chilled out vibes, low level seating and Mothers’ Day mix in the Big Top, not to mention the delicious drinks and her favourite Sunday bargains!

Treat your ma and bring her to the market! Sunday 14 March 10:00 – 4:00. www.cattericksundaymarket.co.uk

source: Guardian

BUDDING entrepreneurs could be given the chance to kick-start their business careers thanks to a new competition.

People from across Redbridge could win six month’s rent-free trading space at their nearest market, as part of the Make Your Mark in the Markets contest, run by Enterprise UK, an organisation which aims to help people into self-employment.

This year’s competition has been split into two categories: the first for entrepreneurs who have been trading for less than six months, and the second for those looking to expand an existing, but still relatively young, business.

One shortlisted applicant per market will win up to 10 day’s free trading to prove that their product or service has what it takes to cut it in a real trading environment.

Judges will visit each stall to assess sales, customer feedback and presentation before choosing two national winners, who will receive the top prize of six month’s free trading, £1,000 towards stock, free National Market Traders Federation membership and a business starter pack that provides everything hey will need to hit the ground running.

Graham Wilson, CEO of the National Association of British Market Authorities, said: “The markets industry desperately needs to recruit new traders, and the Make Your Mark in the Markets initiative is an excellent way of raising the profile of markets, while attracting new entrepreneurs as market traders.

“Last year we launched a successful competition and we are hoping that this year we will attract even more applicants, and make the markets an attractive place to start new businesses.”

For more information and to enter the competition, visit www.enterpriseuk.org/markets before March 22.